No DC recharging? Can the Energizer 84020 be charged via a DC outlet, or must it be plugged into AC to recharge the unit? For automotive use, it seems limiting if its "effortless to maintain" 2-stage charger only works via AC... I would prefer the flexibility of being able to keep it in the car to keep it topped off, rather than having to move the unit in and out of the house every few weeks/months. No DC recharging? Can the Energizer 84020 be charged via a DC outlet, or must it be plugged into AC to recharge the unit? For automotive use, it seems limiting if its "effortless to... » Read More No DC recharging? Can the Energizer 84020 be charged via a DC outlet, or must it be plugged into AC to recharge the unit? For automotive use, it seems limiting if its "effortless to maintain" 2-stage charger only works via AC... I would prefer the flexibility of being able to keep it in the car to keep it topped off, rather than having to move the unit in and out of the house every few weeks/months. « Show Less
18687
Good question. I asked the manufacturer (UPG: www.upgi.com), and tech rep Elaine Kortkamp told me on 12/3/10 that the unit can only be charged via the AC connection. If you need that function, I think some of the Schumacher models have it.
18688
Thanks for finding out, Michael! The thinking that appears to have gone into the industrial design and ease-of-use on this unit are really impressive vs. other units on the market... just a shame that the charging is limited to AC. Perhaps an improvement they will consider for future models.
18689
Seems to me you can charge it in your car using a voltage inverter plugged into your lighter.
18690
Gadgets like this can typically be kept topped up with a jumper from the car's lighter socket to the gadget's lighter socket. The better cords for the purpose have fuses in their plugs. The car's own voltage regulator maintains adequate level for intermittently charging the sealed lead acid battery without damage.
18691
OldAmazonian says:~{Gadgets like this can typically be kept topped up with a jumper from the car's lighter socket to the gadget's lighter socket. The better cords for the purpose have fuses in their plugs. The car's own voltage regulator maintains adequate level for intermittently charging the sealed lead acid battery without damage.}~While this more than likely should work, I'd let someone else try it before trying it on my own unit. Unless I tore it appart an investigated how things are wired inside and did some actual electrical measuring, I'd not try it unlesss I was willing to chance that something might get toasted. OldAmazonian says:~{Gadgets like this can typically be kept topped up with a jumper from the car's lighter socket to the gadget's lighter socket. The better cords for the purpose have fuses in their plugs. The car's own voltage regulator maintains adequate level for intermittently charging the sealed lead acid battery without damage.}~While this more than likely should work, I'd let someone else try it before trying it on my own unit. Unless I tore it appart an investigated how things are wired inside and did some actual electrical measuring, I'd not try it unlesss I was... » Read More OldAmazonian says:~{Gadgets like this can typically be kept topped up with a jumper from the car's lighter socket to the gadget's lighter socket. The better cords for the purpose have fuses in their plugs. The car's own voltage regulator maintains adequate level for intermittently charging the sealed lead acid battery without damage.}~While this more than likely should work, I'd let someone else try it before trying it on my own unit. Unless I tore it appart an investigated how things are wired inside and did some actual electrical measuring, I'd not try it unlesss I was willing to chance that something might get toasted. « Show Less
2256708
You probably do not want to have this plugged in all the time because that will "overcharge" the battery and damage it, so you only want to take it to it's "full" level and stop. If you want to have it charged every day to be "freshly charged", after an initial charge you could leave it plugged into a timer that comes on for 20 minutes a day, that wouldn't "overcharge" it and yet would give it a brief charge.As far as current used, the charger probably delivers 1/2 Amp at 12V which means at 120V house power it only draws 0.05 Amps. So you will hardly see that on your power bill. You probably do not want to have this plugged in all the time because that will "overcharge" the battery and damage it, so you only want to take it to it's "full" level and stop. If you want to have it charged every day to be "freshly charged", after an initial charge you could leave it plugged into a timer that comes on for 20 minutes a day, that wouldn't "overcharge" it and yet would give it a brief charge.As far as current used, the charger probably delivers 1/2 Amp at 12V which means at 120V house power it only draws 0.05 Amps. So you will... » Read More You probably do not want to have this plugged in all the time because that will "overcharge" the battery and damage it, so you only want to take it to it's "full" level and stop. If you want to have it charged every day to be "freshly charged", after an initial charge you could leave it plugged into a timer that comes on for 20 minutes a day, that wouldn't "overcharge" it and yet would give it a brief charge.As far as current used, the charger probably delivers 1/2 Amp at 12V which means at 120V house power it only draws 0.05 Amps. So you will hardly see that on your power bill. « Show Less
142569
I've purchased several brands of these "Jump-start" packs (although not this exact model). Older units used to come with a small "wall wart" power supply for charging that had a 4 foot cord. Most newer ones are now coming with the 2 prongs on it that you can plug in almost any AC extension cord into (and they don't supply a cord since most individuals will have one already). A DC cord for use in a car is a bigger question. I'm not sure of that (although they say in the details "Can be easily charged from a cars lighter outlet"). If they don't have such a cord, you could probably get one like the Clore ESA1 or Schumacher SAC-109 for $5 (both of those are for that purpose and have male lighter plugs on both ends to go into the outlet on the car and the power-pack).
1847915
I am an independent retailer selling this product (I do not work for Black & Decker) and have asked many of the same questions to B & D. The unit is rechargeable from AC or DC, so yes you can recharge it from a car that is running normally. The unit requires a 15 hour initial charge, and B & D recommends that the unit be recharged after use, so 1 time use, and then recharge. According to B & D, the unit will hold a charge for 3 to 4 months while not in use (I tell my customers 3 to be safe). This unit will NOT start a car if the battery is completely dead or if the battery wont hold a charge. The gist of it is that this unit pumps current through the accessory port (cigarette lighter) to give your battery enough power to crank the engine. It will take anywhere from 5 to 10 minutes to charge the battery fully because it can only pump so much current through the 12 volt dc port to the battery. There is a light on the unit that will blink while charging, and change to a steady light when ready. You will also get a loud beeping when it is ready to boost your battery. Oh, there are 3 batteries in the unit that are comprised of lead acid. Hope this helps.
562184
No it cannot recharge. The only time you plug in the computer is when you are downloading pictures. I just get 2 pairs of battery with a wall charger and besides it comes in a 4 pack anyways so you always have a back up. Use the energizer and you will be fine....
807298
You guys just broke my heart. I was told to get a trickle charger for my g25x infiniti. If it sits for more than 4 days, it dies out. I have to get someone to recharge it. I don't want to be at the mercy of the guy with the portable charger or tow truck. I want something to maintain my battery that doesn't need to be plugged into an electrical outlet. I live in a co-op does have outside electrical outlets but the cable will have to go over the sidewalk and the parking lot to my car to charge it. It doesn't sound safe(tripping or accidentally shredder by snow blower) so I don't think the Board will okay it. Any suggestions where something can be directly attached to my battery? You guys just broke my heart. I was told to get a trickle charger for my g25x infiniti. If it sits for more than 4 days, it dies out. I have to get someone to recharge it. I don't want to be at the mercy of the guy with the portable charger or tow truck. I want something to maintain my battery that doesn't need to be plugged into an electrical outlet. I live in a co-op does have outside electrical outlets but the cable will have to go over the sidewalk and the parking lot to my car to charge it. It doesn't sound safe(tripping or accidentally shredder by snow blower) so I don't think the... » Read More You guys just broke my heart. I was told to get a trickle charger for my g25x infiniti. If it sits for more than 4 days, it dies out. I have to get someone to recharge it. I don't want to be at the mercy of the guy with the portable charger or tow truck. I want something to maintain my battery that doesn't need to be plugged into an electrical outlet. I live in a co-op does have outside electrical outlets but the cable will have to go over the sidewalk and the parking lot to my car to charge it. It doesn't sound safe(tripping or accidentally shredder by snow blower) so I don't think the Board will okay it. Any suggestions where something can be directly attached to my battery? « Show Less
1039260
Yes, it has overcharge protection when using AC. You can also recharge the unit using a DC to DC plug, which comes with the unit. However, that does NOT have overcharge protection. I love this thing, I bought it for camping with my CPAP device. When using DC, I can sleep 7-9 nights (approx 67 hrs) before needing a recharge. When using the inverter and AC, I got 4 nights (28 hrs) use of my CPAP. Really handy to have along on a camp out, especially since someone always needs a jump at the end.
163383
You should avoid using the Energizer 15-minute charger. It has to charge at 4x the rated current (around 8-10A) to achieve fast charge time, but the trade off is severely shortened lifespan (for the batteries, not you). Not sure about your other Duracell slow charger. If it is not a timer-based dumb charger, then you can still use it to recharge AmazonBasic batteries. Unfortunately, most (all?) Energizer slow chargers I have seen are dumb. You can definitely use the Sanyo charger MQN06 to recharge AmazonBasics AA batteries. But the drawbacks are: - It can only charge in pairs - Its charge time is relatively long at ~8 hours (2200mAh/300mA) My advise is to buy a 'smart' charger with reasonable charge time between 2-5 hours. For example: Sony Cycle Energy BCG34HRE4KN Quick with Refresh Charger and 4 Pre-Charged 2000 mAh AA Batteries. You will save time and money in the long run. By the way, the proper way of using low-self-discharge batteries is to pre-charge a second set as standby. That way, you can swap in a set of charged batteries while the first set goes into the charger. No down time at all.
1012835
The manufacturer suggest keeping the unit plugged in since it has an automatic charger that keeps the unit charged without overcharging. The other models they recommend charging immediately after use but do not provide a shelf life for the charge.
896850
No, it is a trickle charger (compared to a "smart" charger that automatically turns off) and will overcharge. Please read the instructions, which clearly state not to leave it charging for more than 8 hours. Only charge until the light turns green, then stop. They also state to recharge immediately after use, and every 30 days if not used, to keep it topped up. Apparently they don't want you to leave it in a discharged state.The battery seems to be the weak link in these rather crappy quality lights. I would do everything I can to follow the instructions and not do anything that might damage the battery or shorten its life... No, it is a trickle charger (compared to a "smart" charger that automatically turns off) and will overcharge. Please read the instructions, which clearly state not to leave it charging for more than 8 hours. Only charge until the light turns green, then stop. They also state to recharge immediately after use, and every 30 days if not used, to keep it topped up. Apparently they don't want you to leave it in a discharged state.The battery seems to be the weak link in these rather crappy quality lights. I would do everything I can to follow the instructions and not do... » Read More No, it is a trickle charger (compared to a "smart" charger that automatically turns off) and will overcharge. Please read the instructions, which clearly state not to leave it charging for more than 8 hours. Only charge until the light turns green, then stop. They also state to recharge immediately after use, and every 30 days if not used, to keep it topped up. Apparently they don't want you to leave it in a discharged state.The battery seems to be the weak link in these rather crappy quality lights. I would do everything I can to follow the instructions and not do anything that might damage the battery or shorten its life... « Show Less
286203
It has a car charger with it. I charge mine in the car. As far as if it charges when the car is off, that would depend on how your car is designed. It uses the power outlet in your car just like charging your phone. So if your phone charges when the car is off so will the speaker. Some cars are designed for the power outlets to still be on, some are not. My CRV is not. As far as syncing 2 iPhones at once, I have never tried it. We bought one for my husbands vehicle and one for mine. Usually when we are in the car together, we don't really use the speaker because the passenger can use the phone. It has a car charger with it. I charge mine in the car. As far as if it charges when the car is off, that would depend on how your car is designed. It uses the power outlet in your car just like charging your phone. So if your phone charges when the car is off so will the speaker. Some cars are designed for the power outlets to still be on, some are not. My CRV is not. As far as syncing 2 iPhones at once, I have never tried it. We bought one for my husbands vehicle and one for mine. Usually when we are in the car together, we don't really use the speaker because the passenger can use the... » Read More It has a car charger with it. I charge mine in the car. As far as if it charges when the car is off, that would depend on how your car is designed. It uses the power outlet in your car just like charging your phone. So if your phone charges when the car is off so will the speaker. Some cars are designed for the power outlets to still be on, some are not. My CRV is not. As far as syncing 2 iPhones at once, I have never tried it. We bought one for my husbands vehicle and one for mine. Usually when we are in the car together, we don't really use the speaker because the passenger can use the phone. « Show Less
780121
Newer models have a voltage regulator so they can be left plugged in constantly, but older models didn't have that and could be damaged if left on too long, so you may get mixed messages about this. This is from the description here on Amazon: "The onboard battery automatically stops charging when it has reached a full charge--allowing you to keep the JNC660 connected to an AC outlet indefinitely without causing any harm to the battery." What I've done to insure I'm not leaving a few batteries I have "drained' but am also not leaving them plugged in 24/7 is set a timer on a charger to come on for 15 minutes a day, otherwise I "manual charge" them right after using them.
387128
This is a power inverter. There is no battery in it. It is made to hook up to a 12 volt DC battery (car battery) using the clamps and it converts the DC power into AC power. You can then plug AC equipment (equipment usually plugged into you outlets at home)and operate them. It is portable, so you can take it anywhere; but you have to have a DC power source available to use it. You also have to be careful not to overload the unit. Make sure the equipment you want to operate (small tv, radio, hair dryer ...etc) doesn't draw more power than the inverter is capable of providing. Hope this helps. John This is a power inverter. There is no battery in it. It is made to hook up to a 12 volt DC battery (car battery) using the clamps and it converts the DC power into AC power. You can then plug AC equipment (equipment usually plugged into you outlets at home)and operate them. It is portable, so you can take it anywhere; but you have to have a DC power source available to use it. You also have to be careful not to overload the unit. Make sure the equipment you want to operate (small tv, radio, hair dryer ...etc) doesn't draw more power than the inverter is capable of providing. Hope this... » Read More This is a power inverter. There is no battery in it. It is made to hook up to a 12 volt DC battery (car battery) using the clamps and it converts the DC power into AC power. You can then plug AC equipment (equipment usually plugged into you outlets at home)and operate them. It is portable, so you can take it anywhere; but you have to have a DC power source available to use it. You also have to be careful not to overload the unit. Make sure the equipment you want to operate (small tv, radio, hair dryer ...etc) doesn't draw more power than the inverter is capable of providing. Hope this helps. John « Show Less
1140740
My husband charged it when he received it two or three months ago. He uses it to charge the auto tires and other small items on a limited basis. So far, he has not charged it since he got it. .. It's the best one he's had and most convenient as it was a replacement for portable Black and Decker Tire chargers he had which worked on rechargeable batteries and they have lasted 20 years with one in each car..
324706
No leave the battery in the device. The circuitry detects if the device is receiving power and then charges the battery and runs the device at the same time. When the battery completes charging the unit continues to run on AC till you unplug from the wall socket. It is a nice feature that you can run it and charge the battery at the same time.
2125339
The unit does not have to be plugged in during use. There is an AC plug that you use to charge it in a wall outlet for 24 hrs. Once charged, the unit can be unplugged from the wall and taken anywhere to jump the engine. Just remember to recharge it for another 24 hrs after every jump!
1276508
We will never get a clear answer on that question. Too many variables. This little gen is only going to be able to get about a 25% charge in a couple of hours. This runs my 25amp house charger with 2 type 34dc batteries and I get a good "top em off affect". Batteries need 8 plus hours of low amp charging to get the last 25% of charge. I'm not sure if this will help but I tried. I feel this little gen is an easy insurance policy to keep the heat and lights going on multi day stays. I wouldn't use the dc charger on the gen unless my converter charger failed to operate.